DAVID Cameron is facing pressure from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to drop his opposition to plans for an EU army, it was disclosed yesterday.

Merkel is pressuring Cameron to drop his opposition against an EU army

The Prime Minister is to be told that Germany would support his bid to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s EU membership if he accepts moves to create a European military force.

Critics fear the development could marginalise Britain within Nato and further undermine the “special relationship” with America.

Robert Oxley, of the Eurosceptic pressure group Business for Britain, said: “This is further proof that inevitable EU integration means that the UK will lose control of its destiny and, possibly, its military strength inside an unreformed EU.

“What was once a zone designed for free trade has become a political, economic and potentially a military body.”

Tory MP Tom Pursglove said: “The British people have no desire for an EU army. We are immensely proud of our Armed Forces and owe all those who serve an enormous debt of gratitude.

“The impact of this would also be disastrous. Once again, the EU elite is out of step and at odds with the British people.”

Mrs Merkel has been one of Mr Cameron’s closest allies in his attempt to overhaul the way the EU functions.

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The paper also suggested that in the framework of Nato, a uniform European pillar would be more valuable and efficient for America than the present disorganisation, characterised by a lack of planning and procurement.

Tory MEP Geoffrey Van Orden, a retired British Army brigadier, said: “I don’t accept that we should have to pay this price. We should not trade away something so strategically important for some minor concessions in terms of reform.”

European federalists have dreamed of a united European army for more than 60 years.

But successive British governments have resisted the notion. At the General Election earlier this year, the Tory manifesto pledged to oppose notions such as an EU army.

A Government spokesman said: “The British public are clear that they are not happy with the status quo, and the PM is determined to address those concerns.”

A senior source added: “This is just yet more of the noise and speculation that we said there would be during the negotiations.”